ANTISANILLA

The first purchase at Antisanilla Biological Reserve was of the 2050 hectares (5570 acres) at Sunfohuaico tract in 2011. The final purchase was completed in January 2014 adding 2000 hectares (4950 ares) to the reserve, making Antisanilla the newest reserve of Jocotoco Foundation. Antisanilla has at least 4 different cliffs in which up to 30 Andean condors have been counted perching, with a population estimated at just 50 wild individuals in the country this represents more than half of the wild condors in Ecuador. In addition to this we have documented two active nests within the property.

Due to its importance for Andean condors, Antisanilla was bought with 400 heads of cattle that will be sustainably managed to feed the condor population. This is very important due to the policy of removing all cattle from the páramos carried out throughout the country that could leave the condors with no food. There will be several thousand hectares off-limits to the cattle to protect the ecosystem from the erosion and pollution they produce.

LOCATION

The Antisanilla Reserve is located on the western slopes of the magnificent Antisana Volcano in central Ecuador, just about 48 km (30 miles) southeast from Quito, within the Quito Metropolitan District. The Reserve has an altitude ranging from 3300m to 4200m. Antisanilla is part of the buffer area surrounding the Antisana Ecological Reserve, and adjoining a large conservation mosaic that includes the Antisana Ecological Reserve, Sumaco- Napo Galeras National park and the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve comprising over 120,000 hectares (296500 acres) of conservation land. The continental divide runs right through the reserve with around half of the watershed draining to the Pacific Ocean and half to the Atlantic Ocean.

GETTING TO THE RESERVE:​

Directions from Quito: To get to
Antisanilla, take the road to Valle de los Chillos, continuing past the San
Luis Shopping Center, until you get to the Colibrí round-a-bout. In
this round-a-bout take the route to the airport. In approximately 10 minutes you
will come to another round-a-bout with options for the airport and for Pintag,
head to your right here for Pintag. Pass through Pintag, passing the central
square, and take the only road leaving town that heads uphill to the
Antisanilla Reserve and the Reserva Ecologica Antisana. The Antisanilla
Reserve is found approximately 20 minutes past. Along the road you will see
signs indicating the beginning of the reserve. You should stop at the “Tambo
Cóndor” restaurant to register, buy your tickets and enter the reserve. The
restaurant is located immediately before the entrance to the reserve.

Opening hours for the trail system and the hummingbird garden: 7:00AM to 3:30PM

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

The Antisanilla Reserve protects 5000 hectares of catchment basin and important habitat for Andean Condors, Spectacled Bears, Mountain Tapir, Puma and Andean fox. Alongside them, there are several species of birds like the Ecuadorian Hillstar, Variable hawk, Aplomado hawk, Peregrine falcon, Carunculated caracaras, Andean gulls, to name a few.

Within the reserve we have found 4 different cliff sites used by as many as 30 Andean condors as perches. We have documented two different nest sites out of a total of 6 nests historically found in Ecuador. With a population estimated at just 50 wild individuals in Ecuador, the population of Andean Condors protected in Antisanilla is extremely important for the survival of the species.

Antisanilla supplies drinking water to several communities surrounding us.

The high altitude grasslands and swamps are very important sources of water and it is essential to conserve them in order to adapt to climate change.